In 1969, Berkeley school administrators launched “Community High” — later “Genesis High School”—which sought to create a new experimental setting for learning. At first, it attracted largely white students who were sympathetic to the burgeoning counterculture.

This page from the 1973-74 Berkeley High yearbook reveals the vision behind the project, as well as its hopes for building a multiracial community. According to Genesis director Fran Hunter, education there would be more centered around contact between students and teachers, and attuned to a program that offered “freedom without chaos.”

For a detailed history of Community High/Genesis, please see the section on the schools in this report.